Does the institution seek to support historically underutilized businesses, minority-owned businesses, and women owned-businesses?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution meets the criteria:

Per GW's Standard Terms & Conditions (for supplier contracts):

Section C5. Supplier Diversity Initiative Program (MBE/WBE).

The University voluntarily maintains a Supplier Diversity Initiative Program as part of its efforts to increase participation of minority and women vendors (MBE/WBE). GW seeks to achieve this goal through primary and second-tier suppliers. All primary suppliers must submit a plan with their bids, indicating how they intend to use minority and women vendors as their second-tier suppliers. Each plan will be evaluated based on good-faith efforts and will consider the following factors:

-- Availability of minority/women vendors who can supply the goods and services requested in the bid documents-- Competitiveness of the prospective second-tier suppliers.

The use of local minority and women-owned businesses strengthens our commitment to the local community. In all cases, however, it is expected that the vendors meet the criteria relating to price, service, and delivery. Supplier diversity will be one, but not the sole, consideration in all contract awards. Ultimately it will be left to the discretion of the primary supplier as to which second-tier suppliers it uses. When a contract is awarded, the supplier is required to maintain its second-tier effort and to submit monthly reports on its progress.

The website URL where information about the program, policy, or practice is available:

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